Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Wild Card by Susan Hayes

Wild Card (The Drift Book 3)

by Susan Hayes

The game of love can change in a heartbeat when fate deals you a wild card.

Technician Lieksa Kiv saw firsthand what the corporations did to their cyborg soldiers during the Resource Wars. Her job: repair their damaged cybernetic components and send them back into battle. When a stolen kiss reveals the truth about her charges, Lieksa sacrifices everything to protect the cyborgs’ secret, including a future with the men she’s fallen for.

Mack Darian and Dash Scudo aren’t soldiers anymore. Inspired by the kindness of the woman who saved their lives and touched their hearts, they are defenders, instead. As Corporate Security, they’re dedicated to protecting the citizens of The Drift from all threats, including each other.

When these three lives reconnect, the flames of passion burn white hot. But before they can hope for a future together, they must contend with old secrets and present-day challenges threatening to tear their world apart.

Excerpt

“That’s what I first noticed about you. You cared about us. How was I supposed to stay away from you once I realized that?”

“Red hair, a kind heart, and a gentle touch. We were doomed right from the start.” Dash turned his hand over and captured hers in his fist.

“Afterward…I swore I’d never work on another cyborg or anything that could possibly be sentient. After everything I did to you, how can you forgive me so easily? I’ve never forgiven myself.”

“You saved our lives the first time we met. More than once, it turns out. The second time we crossed paths, you saved mine yet again. I think that’s grounds for a little forgiveness and understanding. If we couldn’t do that, do you think we’d be working for a corporation like Astek?”

“I wondered about that. At first, I thought it was the only work you could find. But Alyson told me you two have been here since the Drift was first set up. You really don’t mind working for the corporations after all they did to cyborgs?”

“After the Resource War ended and the spoils had been divvied up, there weren’t many jobs left that didn’t involve some sort of corporate connection. Most of the freighters, mining ships, and stations in the galaxy either work for them directly or depend on them for their livelihood. Our choices were simple. Sign on for more fighting with the IAF, work for the corporations, or go live in a backwater colony somewhere and try to eke out a living as a farmer.” Mack snickered. “Do you see either of us as the farming type?”

Her musical laughter was a song Dash’s heart wanted to dance to.

She was still laughing when their meal arrived. All conversation faded to appreciative silence as Jinella and another server set out the feast Nadia had arranged for them.

“She’s an amazing cook. Great voice, too. In fact, she’s almost perfect.”

“Yeah, apart from that one flaw of hers,” Mack muttered and glanced around as if he was expecting Nadia to appear at any second.

“What flaw is that?” Lieksa asked.

“She’s a hugger,” Dash whispered with a theatrical shudder.

“And that’s a flaw?”

“A big one,” Mack chimed in.

Lieksa nearly choked on the first mouthful of her dinner. “Big, scary, cyborg soldiers turned Corp-Sec officers should not be afraid of hugs.”

“We’re not the touchy-feely type,” Mack said.

She set down her fork and looked first at Mac, then at Dash. “Really? Because I don’t recall you two ever having trouble getting touchy or feely with me.”

“You’re the exception to the rule.”

“You’re the exception to all our rules, sweetheart.” It was the truth. Since the day they’d woken up and found themselves under her care, she’d affected them in ways no other woman had. Dash didn’t understand it. He didn’t need to.

Meet The Author

Susan lives out on the Canadian west coast surrounded by open water, dear family, and good friends. She’s jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on purpose and accidently swum with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.

If the world ends, she plans to survive as the spunky, comedic sidekick to the heroes of the new world, because she’s too damned short and out of shape to make it on her own for long.

To contact her about her books or to arrange end of the world team-ups, you can email her at susan@susanhayes.ca.